Colm Gildernew
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I have been working with Dungannon Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It will welcome this work, particularly in light of its concerns about vacancy and protecting the retail heart of towns such as Dungannon.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, you said that there has been an improvement. However, recently, there were reports of over 1,400 patients waiting more than 28 days. How will you ensure that trusts consistently meet the targets for suspected cancer appointments in particular?”
“However, the Committee will want to examine carefully how any new or amended powers would operate in practice. Powers relating to information sharing, official warnings, directions, removal from office and disqualification can have significant, long-standing consequences for charities, trustees, staff, volunteers and, indeed, public confi…”
“<BR /> <BR />The regulations are consequential to the uprating order and provide the supporting technical changes needed to ensure that the revised benefit rates operate correctly. The regulations increase the earning limit for carer's allowance from £196 a week to £204 a week.”
“In response to those findings, Minister Hargey introduced the Charities Bill, which was enacted in 2022. The legislation put in place many of the review's priority recommendations in the limited time remaining in that mandate. The Charities (Amendment) Bill represents the next stage of that reform programme.”
“The Committee will wish to explore the implications of those changes, including for organisations operating across jurisdictions or delivering charitable activity in or from the North. Our charity sector includes a diverse range of bodies.”
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“Additionally, the Committee carefully examined the impact of the proposed changes. Automatic enrolment has been an important policy since its introduction in 2012, increasing workplace pension participation significantly. Here in the North, 73% of employees were enrolled in a workplace pension scheme in 2021. We hope that the Bill will increase that further. To give a comparison, similar policies in other countries have demonstrated long-term benefits, further supporting the necessity of the reforms. <BR /> <BR />The Committee also discussed concerns about the financial impact on employers and the public purse. We were reassured that, while no immediate costs would be imposed on businesses, the benefits of increased pension savings for workers would far outweigh potential costs over time.”
“On behalf of the Committee, I welcome the Final Stage of the Bill. Although the Bill is relatively small, its implications are significant, particularly for younger workers who will now be able to start saving for their retirement at an earlier stage in their career. The Bill is a crucial step towards fostering a culture of long-term financial security and responsible employment practices. <BR /> <BR />Throughout the Committee's consideration of the Bill, we undertook thorough scrutiny and engaged with key stakeholders. One of the highlights of our work was our productive and insightful meeting with Members of the Youth Assembly. The young people who engaged with us demonstrated a keen interest in understanding and contributing to legislative decisions that directly impact on them.”
“Minister, your statement referenced the decision to change the policy around so-called naming and shaming. What evidence did you look at to justify that change?”
“There is great concern in the Irish language sector that the Minister for Communities is dragging his heels on the issue, and it was disappointing that he was unable to commit to a timeline for the delivery of the strategy at last week's Committee meeting. In a similar vein, we need to see the delivery of an anti-poverty strategy. The delivery of that strategy has never been more urgent. I welcome the Minister's commitment to present a final draft to the Executive before the end of this month. <BR /> <BR />We need to see a much more proactive and forthright approach from the Minister, particularly in his engagements with the British Government on the need for a funding package for Casement Park. I conclude my remarks there.”
“The housing supply strategy sets a target of 100,000 new homes in 15 years. That is the scale of what is needed if we are to seriously tackle the current housing crisis. We need to see the Housing Executive building homes again, and that will require a substantial increase in investment. It will also require the British Government to sign off on a new financial model for the Housing Executive that will allow it to borrow the funds that it needs to invest. <BR /> <BR />I turn now to the social inclusion strategies. Again, I welcome the commitment given to delivering an Irish language strategy. Gaels have waited long enough to have their language given the status that it deserves. We need an Irish language strategy to enhance the provision and promotion of the language, as agreed in the New Decade, New Approach agreement.”
“We look forward to continuing to scrutinise the Minister's approach to the issues and will remain resolute in advocating the delivery of long-overdue strategies and projects. <BR /> <BR />I will now make a few brief remarks as Sinn Féin's spokesperson for housing and communities. I start by welcoming the fact that a Programme for Government has been agreed by the Executive. As some Members have pointed out, this is the first time in over a decade that we have reached that point. The PFG contains many important commitments that will improve the lives of everyone, along with such priorities as reducing waiting times, making childcare affordable, growing our economy and protecting our environment. I particularly welcome the high priority placed on housing in the Programme for Government.”
“<BR /> <BR />While the Committee welcomes the overarching ambitions of the Programme for Government, we remain concerned that key social priorities, particularly those within the Department for Communities, have not been given the urgency and attention that they require. We cannot have a Programme for Government that fails to prioritise those most in need, overlooks long-standing commitments on social inclusion or delays critical infrastructure projects that will benefit communities for generations to come. The Committee therefore urges the Minister and the Executive to ensure that those matters are not only acknowledged but acted on with clear commitments and tangible outcomes. The Committee is also keen to undertake robust and effective scrutiny of those cross-departmental priorities.”
“However, we must see greater ambition and long-term investment to tackle the root cause of homelessness. <BR /> <BR />The redevelopment of Casement Park has been a long-standing issue, and, while the Programme for Government includes a commitment to progressing the project, the Committee remains concerned about funding and delivery timelines. Casement Park is not just a sports stadium; it represents a key investment in community infrastructure, tourism and economic development. We urge the Executive and the Minister for Communities to provide greater clarity on funding arrangements and delivery schedules. The Committee has noted and welcomes the progress that is being made in the implementation of the subregional stadia NI football fund programme.”
“The Committee certainly welcomes the commitment to building 5,850 new social homes by 2027. Housing stress continues to rise, with more than 47,000 households on the waiting list. While the Department for Communities has set ambitious targets, delivery will remain the key challenge across a range of issues. Furthermore, the Committee has raised concerns about the fuel poverty strategy, which must be brought forward urgently. The cost-of-living crisis has left too many households struggling to heat their homes, and we must ensure that commitments in that area lead to real action. The loan to acquire move-on accommodation (LAMA) fund announced in the Programme for Government is a welcome step to support homelessness charities in securing housing solutions for those in greatest need.”
“Similarly, the outstanding language strategies must be progressed as a matter of urgency to ensure that linguistic diversity is respected and promoted in a manner that enhances cultural inclusion. <BR /> <BR />The Committee remains clear in its expectations that all of the social inclusion strategies should not be sidelined but must, instead, be central to the Executive's broader commitment to rights and equality. We have also repeatedly pressed the Minister and the Department to engage proactively with the range of co-design groups that have contributed to that work to ensure that their input is reflected. <BR /> <BR />The Programme for Government acknowledges the urgent need for increased housing supply, particularly social and affordable housing.”
“<BR /> <BR />Alongside the anti-poverty strategy, the Committee has regularly pressed the Minister on the status of the language strategies and the disability strategy, all of which are crucial components of a fairer, more inclusive society. The strategies have been subject to repeated delays, leaving many in our communities without the support and recognition that they need. The disability strategy in particular is crucial to ensure that government policy actively removes barriers for disabled people, promoting their full participation in social and economic life. The failure to deliver the strategy in a timely manner undermines commitments to equality and inclusion.”
“That is a welcome step forward and a direct result of the tireless campaigning of the Cliff Edge Coalition, the wider voluntary and community sector and, indeed, the Committee, which has consistently called for action on poverty. The strategy must not be a box-ticking exercise. The Committee will scrutinise its development closely to ensure that it is adequately funded and backed by clear timelines and delivers real and measurable outcomes for those experiencing financial hardship. The Executive have recognised that tackling poverty requires a cross-departmental effort, including addressing educational attainment gaps, health inequalities and housing stress. Those commitments must now be translated into urgent action.”
“I will contribute to this important debate on the Programme for Government in my capacity as Chair of the Committee, but I make it clear that my remarks do not represent an agreed Committee position given the timing; rather, they reflect the concerns, comments and priorities that members from across the political spectrum have raised repeatedly in Committee. If time allows, I will also make comments as Sinn Féin spokesperson. <BR /> <BR />One of the Committee's most pressing concerns has been the lack of progress on key social strategies, including the anti-poverty strategy, the disability strategy and the language strategies. For too long, the North has lacked a coherent and resourced approach to tackling poverty. However, the updated Programme for Government explicitly commits the Executive to bringing forward an anti-poverty strategy.”
“<BR /> <BR />Leanfaimid orainn ag cur na Gaeilge chun cinn lena chinntiú gur féidir le hathbheochan na teanga dul i neart go gasta ar fud an oileáin. Ach ní mór maoiniú cóir a bheith mar chuid de sin.”
“<BR /> <BR />Is í an Ghaelscolaíocht an earnáil is mó fás san oideachas. Ní raibh riamh oiread páistí ag roghnú bheith ag foghlaim tríd an Ghaeilge, in ainneoin a mbíonn de dhúshláin roimh scoileanna agus múinteoirí gach aon lá. Sin ráite, ní san oideachas amháin atá fás mór faoin Ghaeilge. Tá méadú suntasach ag teacht ar úsáid na Gaeilge sna healaíona, sa spórt agus inár bpobail ar fud an oileáin. <BR /> <BR />Agus Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl, molaim do gach duine sult a bhaint as an cheiliúradh is mó sa bhliain ar an Ghaeilge agus ar chultúr na Gaeilge agus páirt a ghlacadh in imeachtaí áitiúla. Tá moladh tuillte ag na daoine sin a d'eagraigh imeachtaí faoi choinne Sheachtain na Gaeilge as a gcuid oibre.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Cheann Comhairle agus roimh na hoifigigh eile ón Dáil chuig an Tionól anseo inniu. <BR /> <BR />Cuirfear tús ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge inniu, coicís d'imeachtaí bríomhara lena ndéanfar ceiliúradh ar neart na Gaeilge nach bhfuil inse béil air agus ar an áit thábhachtach atá ag an Ghaeilge inár sochaí. Tá an teanga ag borradh léi, agus bíonn sí le feiceáil thart timpeall orainn gach lá, rud a bheadh doshamhlaithe tá tamall beag gairid ó shin féin. Seirbhísí aistriúcháin agus ateangaireachta anseo sa Tionól, comharthaíocht tráchta agus sráide i gcodanna den Cheathrú Ghaeltachta, Acht na Gaeilge, fógraí as Gaeilge ar an chóras iompair phoiblí, straitéisí Gaeilge na gcomhairlí, agus coimisinéir le bheith ann amach anseo; níl iontu sin ach cuid de na céimeanna chun tosaigh atá déanta againn mar shochaí.”
“While I acknowledge that the Minister has emphasised his desire to press down on and eradicate them, more inequalities are being built into the system. I urge the Minister to take that into account when he considers the need for improvement in the issue that we are debating today.”
“We need to see radical transformation of NHS dental contracts to make them financially viable again. The Minister needs to set out a road map to show how he intends to improve the situation and give hope to the thousands of frustrated citizens in our communities who demand to see action on such an important issue. I am acutely aware from my time as Health Committee Chair of the severe workforce pressures across Health and Social Care generally, which simply underlines the need for urgency in wider workforce planning. <BR /> <BR />Given the rurality and border location of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, we are already extremely marginalised when it comes to many health services, and that is no less true of dental healthcare, which contributes to the creation of further inequalities.”
“As mentioned, children are being deprived of early intervention that could prevent serious dental issues in the future, and they suffer in pain waiting for dental treatment. My understanding is that, a number of years ago at least, although I am not sure if this is still the case, the most prevalent reason for the admission of children to hospitals was tooth extraction. <BR /> <BR />The issue at the heart of the situation is a lack of funding. NHS contracts are not financially viable for most dental practices, leaving them with little choice but to take on private patients to allow them to maintain a sustainable business model. As we have heard, however, many people cannot afford to pay the costs associated with private dental care, and they therefore go without that essential care.”
“I also thank Deborah for securing the Adjournment debate, and I thank the Minister for attending. I support everything that has been said about the difficulties and challenges that exist. As my colleagues said, there is a severe lack of NHS dentists in Fermanagh and South Tyrone and in many constituencies across the North. That has been an issue for many years, and, unfortunately, we seem to be making no real positive progress on it. <BR /> <BR />Dental care is, of course, a basic healthcare necessity and absolutely not a luxury. When people are unable to see a dentist, they suffer in pain; small problems become major health issues; and tooth infections go untreated, impacting on overall health and, in some cases, leading to life-threatening complications.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. There are some very interesting elements, and better public transport infrastructure is absolutely the way that we need to go. I welcome her engagement with Members today and her commitment to further engagement. The 'A Bolder Vision' initiative was mentioned in your statement, and your Department, along with colleagues in the Department for Communities and Belfast City Council, has worked on that. How will this be of benefit in areas of high traffic, complement the work on the public realm and provide increased cycling and pedestrian opportunities in the city?”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank the SDLP for its amendment, which calls for legislation to extend the statutory threatened with homelessness period beyond the current 28 days. That provides me with a brilliant opportunity to advise the House that I am working on a private Member's Bill that would do exactly that. I hope to have that Bill out for consultation in a matter of weeks. I am happy to work with everyone in the Chamber who is interested in that area and that issue to ensure that the Bill can be progressed. Also, my party colleague Ciara Ferguson is consulting on a private Member's Bill that would protect renters by introducing a ban on unfair letting fees. I encourage as many people as possible to respond to that consultation and ask that Members do likewise. <BR /> <BR />I will leave my remarks there.”
“Deirdre recognised that there was more work to be done to protect renters, and the Private Tenancies Act 2022 was but the first stage of a journey to see even greater protections being put in place in the future. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin supports a ban on no-fault evictions. I am sure that many Members have had constituents in their offices seeking advice after a landlord has decided to evict them from their home without any good reason. No-fault evictions create huge stress and uncertainty for the affected party and often force families into homelessness. Many jurisdictions have taken steps to ban no-fault evictions, including Germany, New Zealand and the Scandinavian countries; indeed, my party colleague Eoin Ó Broin introduced a Bill in the Dáil calling for a ban to be introduced in the South.”
“<BR /> <BR />I turn to the substance of the motion, which is about supporting renters. Much of it aligns, I have to say, with Sinn Féin policy. We agree that rents have become unaffordable for many people, and we have supported measures to bring rents under control in the Six Counties and in the Twenty-six Counties. In particular, I point to the sterling work carried out by my party colleague Deirdre Hargey, who implemented a rent freeze during her time as Minister for all those in Housing Executive properties. She also introduced the Private Tenancies Bill in 2022, which extended the notice to quit period to eight weeks and banned unfair rent increases.”
“As we all know, house prices are driven upwards by a lack of housing supply, so foremost in our concerns, if we want to support renters, should be the aim of building more homes. We have a draft housing supply strategy that sets an ambitious target of 100,000 new homes over the next 15 years. That is the scale of what is needed if we are to make any meaningful impact in tackling the housing crisis. Whilst we have a target to aim for, we also need the investment to match it. Unfortunately, we have not seen adequate investment in housing for many long years. The draft Programme for Government outlines the Executive' s commitment to deliver more social and affordable homes, and we now need to see a significant increase in investment so that we can deliver on that.”
“I start by thanking Members for tabling the motion, and by saying that I own a private property from which I gain a rental income. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin believes that housing is a human right. Everyone in our society, no matter what age or background they come from, should have access to a decent and affordable home of their own. A home is not just a roof over someone's head; it is fundamental to the well-being of every person in our society. Yet, we still have many people who do not have access to a decent, affordable home of their own that meets their needs. <BR /> <BR />The motion focuses on the private rental sector. I will address some of the substance of the motion in a moment, but, from the outset, it is important to recognise that we are simply not building enough homes.”
“Minister, how is AI being incorporated into your Department's work?”
“That visibility and that accessibility are key to improving the lives of those who are deaf and their families. I particularly welcome the Department's commitment to continue the co-design partnership with the deaf community that has been integral to the work done on the Bill to date and will be crucial in the months ahead as we aim to pass the strongest possible Bill. I very much look forward to Committee Stage, when we will have the opportunity to drill into the detail of the Bill and get a deeper understanding of exactly how it will improve the lives of the deaf community. <BR /> <BR />I look forward to working with the Minister constructively and positively, particularly should the need arise for amendments.”
“On behalf of my party, I very much welcome the introduction of the Bill. It has been a long road with many frustrating delays and doubts about when, if ever, we would get to this point, but the resolve and fortitude of the deaf community was unwavering. Only through their tireless campaigning did we get here in the end. <BR /> <BR />The Bill will ensure that Irish Sign Language and British Sign Language are recognised as the vibrant, living languages that they are. They are integral to the lives of so many people in our communities, yet, for their users, significant barriers remain in accessing public services. <BR /> <BR />At the heart of the Sign Language Bill is the issue of equality: equality for those who are deaf in their ability to access education, health, justice and many other public services through sign.”
“will scrutinise the proposals closely, ensuring that any proposed commitments can be met and that the deaf community will see real and tangible benefits from this. To conclude my remarks as Chair of the Committee, this is a historic and long overdue moment for the deaf community in the North of Ireland. It is about fairness, inclusion and recognition. The Committee for Communities stands fully behind the principles of the Bill and supports its progression to Committee Stage for further scrutiny. To all of those who have fought tirelessly for this day to come I say, "Thank you". Your advocacy, resilience and vision have made this possible. I look forward to working collaboratively to progress the legislation, ensuring that it delivers real and lasting change. <BR /> <BR />I will now make a few brief remarks as Sinn Féin spokesperson.”
“The Committee heard that the British Deaf Association and other stakeholders have emphasised the need for ongoing investment in interpreter training, public service accessibility and early years education. This must be living legislation, evolving to meet the changing needs of the deaf community. The Committee noted that the Bill make provision for monitoring mechanisms, requiring the Department for Communities to report every five years on the implementation of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />The Committee, a chairde,”
“That is to ensure that funded courses will move fully online, with full support for deaf tutors, and that the Department's funding supports learning from signed play for babies and toddlers to accredited qualifications ranging from NVQ level 1 for beginners to degree-equivalent level 6 for parents of deaf children in order to provide them with the linguistic skill set to help their deaf children acquire signing in the family home in just the same way as hearing children acquire spoken language in their family environment. <BR /> <BR />If the Bill is supported by the Assembly today and proceeds to Committee Stage, the Committee plans to engage directly with key stakeholders and examine whether they are content and whether any amendments are necessary to strengthen its provisions.”
“The sign language partnership group established in 2008 has worked closely with the deaf community for over 15 years, ensuring that the Bill reflects the real lived experiences and genuine needs of the community. It was good to hear that the Sign Language Bill will address all of these issues. <BR /> <BR />Members were also pleased to hear that the Bill team has worked closely with deaf organisations that specialise in the delivery of early years family sign language courses.”
“The Bill moves beyond disability legislation, recognising that sign language is not just an accessibility tool but a core aspect of cultural and linguistic identity. <BR /> <BR />The Committee for Communities has already received an overview from officials in preparation for moving forward. At our 6 February meeting, we heard directly from departmental officials about the fundamental aims of the Bill. It was made clear that the deaf community had expressed to the Department the view that disability legislation alone is not the appropriate framework to protect and advance their linguistic rights. The Committee welcomed the clarity that the Bill will provide for public bodies, ensuring that services are truly accessible, inclusive and equitable. The Committee also commends the extensive co-design process that has shaped the legislation.”
“This Bill is a transformational step towards breaking down those barriers, providing formal recognition for BSL and ISL and ensuring that sign language users have their linguistic and cultural rights respected. It provides for official recognition of BSL and ISL as languages with equal status; a statutory duty on prescribed public organisations to take reasonable steps to make their services accessible to sign language users; a commitment to promote the use and understanding of sign languages, including greater access to sign language education for deaf children and their families; and a framework for accrediting sign language interpreters and teachers, ensuring professional standards and capacity building in the sector.”
“When it was published in 2016, it included proposals for legislation for BSL and ISL. We can all agree that the deaf community has been very patient in its wait for the legislation to finally arrive. <BR /> <BR />We hope that the Bill will break down the barriers that often stem from a lack of understanding and recognition of sign language and the unique needs of the deaf community. For far too long, deaf people in the North have faced barriers to accessing essential services, educational opportunities and public life. Language is the foundation of communication and inclusion, yet Irish Sign Language and British Sign Language have lacked the formal recognition and support that they deserve.”
“I agree with the Minister that they are not only languages but beautiful, expressive and important languages that we should nurture and value. <BR /> <BR />The Committee looks forward to engaging extensively with the deaf community, their advocates and representative organisations. We understand that their contributions to this point have been invaluable. In June 2024, the Committee hosted an event in the Long Gallery that was attended by many members of the deaf community and reinforced the immense need and demand for the legislation. The positivity and determination of that event still resonate strongly with us today. <BR /> <BR />It has been a long journey since 2015, when the then Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, my colleague Carál Ní Chuilín, announced plans to publish and consult on a framework for sign language.”
“I welcome and acknowledge the activists who are here today. On behalf of the Committee, I very much welcome the Second Stage of the Sign Language Bill. <BR /> <BR />The Committee received a pre-introductory briefing from officials on 6 February and was pleased that the Minister was able to introduce the Bill last Monday. It is a great honour for me to stand here today on behalf of the Committee for Communities to speak in support of the Second Stage of the Sign Language Bill. It is a momentous occasion for the deaf community in the North, who have waited with extraordinary patience, resilience and determination for the legislation to become a reality. The Bill has been long-awaited, and the journey has been one of commitment, advocacy and collaboration.”
“We must move towards a funding model that is stable, strategic and fair, one that allows Departments to plan effectively, ensures that resources are directed where they are most needed and gives certainty to the people and organisations that rely on those services. <BR /> <BR />The Committee will continue to hold the Department to account, but financial oversight alone will not fix a system that is structurally underfunded. That is a challenge for not only the Executive but the British Government, who must acknowledge the unique financial pressures facing the North and step up to support us with a more sustainable funding model. Our communities, who depend on those services, cannot afford another year of last-minute fixes, emergency reallocations and financial uncertainty. We need a better way forward.”
“Without a fair funding settlement from Westminster, we will continue to see Departments struggle to balance their budgets, essential services stretched to their absolute limits and vital programmes operating with no long-term certainty. <BR /> <BR />The Committee for Communities will continue to scrutinise spending decisions to ensure that public money is used effectively; push for a more strategic multi-year budgeting approach so that services are not forced into crisis management; and examine the proposed solution to welfare mitigation funding to ensure that people get the support that they need without having to rely on emergency budget measures. The Budget Bill is a necessary step, but it is not a solution.”
“We are told that, instead of being able to focus on long-term improvements, the Department is constantly forced to react to funding shortfalls and unexpected pressures. That instability has real and damaging consequences: fewer social affordable homes are being built; key housing and regenerating projects face delays; and ongoing uncertainty surrounds the Supporting People programme and discretionary welfare assistance. <BR /> <BR />The Budget Bill grants the necessary legal authority for spending, but it does not address the deeper financial challenges facing the Department and the Executive as a whole. Public services in the North continue to be underfunded compared with objective need.”
“<BR /> <BR />Without long-term financial certainty, housing providers cannot commit to multi-year investments and community organisations are left in limbo, unsure whether their funding will continue beyond the immediate term. People in crisis should not have to wait for last-minute reallocations to find out whether essential support schemes will continue. I know that the Minister is keenly aware that we need fewer last-minute reallocations and more stable needs-based budgeting. The British Government must also step up and play their part to make that a reality. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has heard directly from the Department for Communities about the difficulties posed by financial instability.”
“<BR /> <BR />Another pressing issue is the increasing reliance on headroom funding, with the Executive allocating £183·3 million across all Departments. Of that, £3·3 million of resource DEL and £1·5 million of capital DEL is allocated to the Department for Communities. While headroom funding helps ensure that additional resources are not lost, it also creates instability. Departments and service providers cannot make long-term plans if they do not know whether the funding will be sustained. For the Department for Communities, that particularly affects housing support and homelessness prevention; social security payments and discretionary welfare support; and funding for local councils and voluntary organisations.”
“Instead, however, it is being authorised through the Budget Bill as an interim measure. <BR /> <BR />For the Department for Communities, that spend includes £12 million for supplementary welfare reform and mitigation payments, which provide essential support to people impacted on by welfare changes. The payments are vital, yet, for recipients and the organisations that help administer them, they lack having been put on a permanent legislative footing. Although we welcome the Minister's assurance that the payments will be put on a statutory footing this year, it is a fact that they remain in a precarious position, dependent on temporary measures. That lack of permanence creates uncertainty for the people who rely on those payments and the organisations that administer them.”
“I will address the Assembly on the Budget Bill as the Chair of the Communities Committee. Given the extensive discussion yesterday on the Supply resolution and its linked motions, I will not rehearse the points that were made. Instead, I will focus on the critical issues in the Bill that impact on the Department for Communities and on the people who rely on its services. <BR /> <BR />The Budget Bill is not just a procedural matter but a reflection of the choices that we make about how to fund essential services, support our most vulnerable and plan for the future. One important aspect of the Bill is that it provides legal authority for certain spending that currently rests on its sole authority. That is spending that in normal circumstances would require specific legislation.”
“<BR /> <BR />In recent times, however, an application has been made to the planning authorities for a retail and mixed community development on the site. I sincerely welcome that. It is long overdue that the blight on the centre of Dungannon town be addressed and investment be allocated to that site. I commit to the wider regeneration of Dungannon town, which also needs to be a focus for a range of Departments, and I will continue to work with the traders, the communities and the people, who live, work and shop in Dungannon town, to restore and repair the damage that was caused by the demolition of Ann Street.”
“Members may or may not know that Ann Street was a significant part of the heart of Dungannon town: a thriving, bustling street that contained a mix of businesses, including hardware stores and bars, and family homes. In the early 1980s, some 40 years ago, there was a proposal to regenerate Ann Street. The wrecking balls moved in and entirely demolished the street, but the redevelopment never came. Many South Tyrone representatives have worked on the issue and sought to deliver the much-needed regeneration and rebuilding of Ann Street. However, there have been several false dawns, including a number of years ago, when I became an MLA, when I met developers who had a plan for mixed use on the site, which did not come to fruition.”
“I thank the Minister for his acknowledgement of the family in my constituency who are at the centre of this. When it comes to wider human impact, Minister, can you assure us that the way in which it will be managed will not be detrimental to human health?”
“Does the deputy First Minister share my concern about the potential loss of funding to the International Fund for Ireland, which is in doubt as part of a review of overseas funding directed by the new US Administration?”
“Time and again, we have seen successive British Governments enact policies that inflict pain on the most vulnerable in our society, such as the two-child limit or the removal of the winter fuel allowance.”